Pitta

THE PITTA TYPE hot, light, fluid, agile, mildly oily, piercing/sharp

BODY TYPE AND GENERAL APPEARANCE:

Pitta types are of average height and weight. Their chests are flat and rarely muscular. Movements are quick and dynamic.

SKIN:

Pitta types have shiny, smooth and warm skin, they perspire often and easily. Their main features are freckles, pimples, acne, reddish birthmarks and wrinkles. Their skin colour is red, pink or yellowish. Pitta skin is prone to sunburn.

HAIR:

Hair is fine, wispy, silky, soft, smooth and moderately thick. Pitta types tend to go grey at a young age, and also exhibit early hair loss and baldness.

HEAD AND FACE:

The Pitta type head is medium in size with a rounded shape. Pitta type faces are round or oval, of average size, and often bear striking features. Their complexion is pink, red and luminous. Red cheeks are a characteristic of Pitta types who also blush easily. Nose is medium in size, with a sharp bridge and tip. The mouth exhibits standard-sized teeth and gums are prone to bleeding. Lips are of average size, soft and very red.

NECK AND SHOULDERS:

The neck is of medium strength, and shoulder width is average.

ARMS, HANDS, FINGERS, LEGS AND FEET:

Pitta type arms are of medium sturdiness and length, and the muscles tend to be soft. Medium-sized hands are soft, moist and warm with pink skin. Fingers are medium in size with soft, pink and not very large nails. The Pitta type handshake is firm and warm. Their legs are of average sturdiness and length, and feet are medium in size, soft, moist and pink.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:

Good circulation results in a warm body that is well supplied with blood. The pulse is strong.

DIGESTION, METABOLISM AND APPETITE:

Pitta types can digest large quantities of all types of food without putting on much weight. Their metabolism is good, but they need to be careful with spicy and sour foods. They like to eat well, a lot, and often, and have a strong thirst. Pitta types require three regular meals a day and are unable to tolerate hunger. They prefer cool dishes and drinks.

DEMEANOUR, CHARACTER AND EMOTIONS:

Pitta type personalities are brave but safety-conscious, determined, helpful, astute, self-confident, cheerful, enterprising and ambitious. However, they can also be resentful and bear grudges (often for a long time), be irascible, impatient, hot-headed, argumentative and destructive. They are quick to anger and just as quickly placated, kind to subordinates and strict in the face of dissent. Pitta types are not easily persuaded, but they are inquisitive, and happy to try out new things. They love their freedom and don’t like to be tied down.

INTELLIGENCE AND MEMORY:

Pitta types have fast and perceptive minds. They are intelligent, critical, and consistent, with questioning and analytical minds that are not easily satisfied. Their memory is excellent, sharp, and discriminating.

VULNERABILITIES, DISEASES AND NATURAL DEFENCES:

Sensitive to heat and sun, Pitta types are prone to inflammations, infections and febrile diseases. Their resistance to disease is average, their response to medication equally so, and they require standard doses of medication.

LIFE IN GENERAL:

Pitta types love sport, games, hunting and competitions, but they also enjoy dancing, parties and politics. They do not shy away from challenges and like to be at the centre of things, be it at a party or in battle. Pitta types prefer a cooler climate, and in the summer heat they should try to stay in the shade as much as possible. Since they can be quite stubborn, they easily overestimate their limits and energy potentials, and therefore have a slight tendency to experience burnout. Pitta types are workaholics and don’t like to delegate work they have already begun. They are also reluctant to interrupt their work. Pitta types are highly self-opinionated, autocratic and short-tempered. They love and defend their freedom, and are subject to sudden mood swings.

IN HARMONY:

» Medium build

» Highly intelligent, perceptive and ambitious

» Good speaker

» Likes new challenges and is willing to accept leadership roles

» Highly developed organisational skills

» High energy levels

» Lively appetite

WHEN UNBALANCED:

» Prone to premature greying and hair loss

» Prone to irritability, anger and jealousy

» Aversion to heat

» Tendency to spread themselves too thinly

» Typical symptoms of disease:

- Inflammations, especially of the eyes

- Hot flashes, stomach ulcers and heartburn

» Pitta Tea – cooling

» Pitta Spice

» Coconut oil also has a cooling effect

» Warm energy drink with mint (no ginger)

» Rosewater with water and ground cardamom (200ml water, 4 tbsp rosewater, 1/2 tsp ground cardamom)

THE KAPHA TYPE heavy, cool, soft, viscous, slow, solid, smooth, oily, corporeal

BODY TYPE AND GENERAL APPEARANCE:

The Kapha type body is stocky, thickset, large and often chubby, although generally well proportioned. The body has heavy, strong and sturdy muscles and bones, which endows it with great strength and endurance. However, Kapha types are prone to excessive weight gain. Their movements are slow and sluggish.

SKIN:

The skin is thick, damp/oily, shiny, elastic, soft and smooth. Thanks to their insulating layer of fat, Kapha types don’t feel the cold. Their skin tone is lighter and paler than average.

HAIR:

Hair is healthy, strong, curly or kinky, often stiff, but soft. We rarely find hair loss and never see baldness in Kapha types.

HEAD AND FACE:

The head is large and square. The face is round and large with a pale complexion. The forehead is broad and fleshy; the eyes are large, clear, round, open and often protruding, with a gentle, calm gaze. The nose is large, thick and wide (bulbous nose). The lips are usually thick and soft.

NECK AND SHOULDERS:

The Kapha type neck is strong and thick, and the head often sits directly on the shoulders, which are wider and chunkier than average.

ARMS, HANDS, FINGERS, LEGS AND FEET:

The arms are strong, long and sturdy but well formed, with large, strong, firm and generally cool hands. Fingers are thick and large with thick, firm yet flexible, light-coloured fingernails.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:

Kapha type circulation tends to be slow and constant; the Kapha pulse is slow, steady and regular.

DIGESTION, METABOLISM AND APPETITE:

Digestion is slow and sluggish although the metabolism is efficient. Kapha types need little food, put on weight quickly, and rarely lose weight.